Automatic jacking, levelling and lining railroad track tampers



p 17, 1968 E. H. FISHER 3,401,642

AUTOMATIC JACKING, LEVELLING- AND LINING RAILROAD TRACK TAMPERS FiledNov. 4, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR f. H. FISHER jmvyv A'rronueysSept. 17, 1968 E. H. FISHER 3,401,542

AUTOMATIC JACKING, LEVELLING AND LINING RAILROAD TRACK TAMPERS FiledNov. 4, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 l 575:1 /3 57 103 IOI 32 32b 29a r 98 Z9Z0 1 29 32 3' I 20 I B l I00 5 3 z k 7 99 E. H. FISHER Sept. 17, 1968 5.H. FISHER 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov. 4, 1966 R 5.. 0W4 N H oo E5 1! V IY "F l W H E Mv 5 H 6 2 I q. 8 2 fl m 1 0 1 I l: 7 Q I 2 m P 1968 E. H.FISHER 3,401,642

AUTOMATIC JACKING, LEVELLING AND LINING RAILROAD TRACK TAMPERS FiledNov. 4, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Inveuron E. H. FISHER g br ArronusysUnited States Patent 3,401,642 AUTOMATIC JACKING, LEVELLING AND Ll'NINGRAILROAD TRACK TAMPERS Earl H. Fisher, 630 Casgrain Ave., St. Lambert,

Montreal, Quebec, Canada Filed Nov. 4, 1966, Ser. No. 592,202 16 Claims.(Cl. 104-8) This invention relates to automatically jacking, levellingand lining tampers controlled and directed with or without a tape cut bya computer or received direct from a track recording device, etc.

In the past, tamper equipment has been costly with the power sourcepermanently attached to the machine and, therefore, not available forother use. The amplitude and frequency of the tamping vibratory actioncycle was fixed, and therefore, not flexible. Furthermore, the tampingtools, for the most part, left an inverted wedge or pyramid shape ofcompacted ballast under the tie after the tamping cycle had finished,which was not a stable structure in all cases, the tamping tools havingleft a shear plane along the faces where the tamping had compacted theballast. In addition, the squeeze force was cut off when a predeterminedhydraulic pressure for the compaction of ballast under the tie had beenreached. This type of cut off action for the compaction of ballast underthe ties causes a nonuniform force of reaction between the ballast, tieand tie plate and rail, in many instances. With the present type oftamper the optimum raise, level and line condition is not alwaysprovided considering the variables such as volume of trafiic, trainspeeds, axle loadings, weight of rail, condition of ballast and cost ofmaterials, etc., that should be considered.

The subject invention overcomes the above mentioned limitationsassociated with the conventional tamping machines in that it is operatedin conjunction with my previous invention entitled, Roadrail VehicleHaving a Self-Aligning Retractable Flanged Wheel Arrangement, U.S. Ser.No. 421,326 filed Dec. 28, 1964, now Patent No. 3,338,184, therebyproviding a detachable power source which is used for locomotion andhydraulic power source for the tamper as well as other hydraulic powersource and other pneumatic tired vehicle use when not used for anattachment power source for the tamper. The use of a mass producedpneumatic tired vehicle will materially reduce the overall cost of doingwork for both the tamping and other work as required. Furthermore, theelimination of a power source and hydraulic power components from thetamper enables the tamper to be much lighter and less costly than wouldotherwise be the case.

It has been possible to vary the amplitude and frequency as well as theimpact of the vibratory action of the tamping cycle by incorporating myprevious invention, entitled, Hydraulic Intake and Exhaust ValvingArrangement,

U.S. Ser. No. 423,073 filed an. 4, 1965, now Patent No.

3,369,459, into the tamping head of the present invention. At the sametime, this overall arrangement of the tamping head permits theestablishment of a compacted ballast section as with the presenttampers, as well as a pyramid or wedge-shape of compacted ballast underthe ties with the top of the wedge or pyramid cut off; or it can providea rectangular shape of compacted ballast under the tie.

A more uniform compaction of ballast under the ties is obtained by usinga part of my previous invention, Hydraulic, Mechanical, Electrical,Sensing Device, U.S. Ser. No. 445,123 filed Apr. 2, 1965, now Patent No.3,364,- 579, and here the tamping action is cut off by this means, whenthe rail is raised a predetermined amount against a restrainingpressure, thereby ensuring that the ballast is always uniformlycompacted under the tie and that the tie plate and rails are alwaysuniformly tight, one with the 3,401,642 Patented Sept. 17, 1968 iceother. Variations of this invention are used in the sensing of thetrack, so that suitable correction can be made to it when applied to theautomatic jacking and levelling tamper hereinafter described.

With the automatic jacking and levelling tamper, controlled by a tape,etc., variations of the sensing invention are used to control the exactamount of correction as dictated by the tape, etc.

With the automatic jacking and/or lining tamper the sensing means todictate the amount of raise or alignment and to control the exact amountof movement to obtain this end is an integral part of the tamper.

The automatic jacking, levelling and/or lining tamper operating from acomputer tape is distinctly different from the automatic jacking,levellling and/ or lining tamper in that the movement to obtain thedesired raise and/or alignment is dictated from a computer tape whichwas basically made by another piece of equipment such as a trackrecording car and then corrected by a computer after variables such astrain speeds, axle loadings, ballast conditions, volume of trafiic, etc.have been taken into consideration.

It can be seen that when a tamper is operated from a tape that much ofthe complexity has been removed from it as the sensing means has beenincorporated into an independent track recording machine as described inmy invention, Hydraulic, Mechanical, Electrical Sensing Device, Ser. No.445,123. It follows that the simplified automatic tamper operated bydirection of a tape will not require as highly skilled operators andmechanics as with the present conventional tampers that operate withouta tape. This reduced skill requirement will in many instances be more inkeeping with the talents of the labour force available to maintain andoperate the less complicated machine operating by direction of a tape.

The simplified tamper operated by direction of a tape will be lesscostly to build and will be more reliable because much of thecomplexities have been removed from it and placed in a track recordingmachine that can service many tampers. In addition, the tape tamper willprovide track to a minimum required when train speeds, weight of rail,volume of traffic, ballast conditions, etc. have been taken intoconsideration and evaluated accordingly.

Another benefit is that the analysis of what is required to be done tothe track and the actual work done to the track has been separated andconsequently the assessment of what should be done has been removed fromany parochial thinking and is based on fact, rather than opinion.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing specification and the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of the automatic jacking and levellingtamper according to the present invention combined with a separatedetachable pneumatic tired power source equipped with a self-aligning,retractable flanged wheel arrangement.

FIGURE 2 is a transverse sectional elevation partly in section taken onthe line 2--2 of FIGURE 1 showing the longitudinal and cross levellingdevices as well as the tamping cycle cut-off device.

FIGURE 3 is a partial view similar to one half of FIGURE 2 but showingresistance devices in the place of. hydraulic cylinder devices.

FIGURE 4 is a diagrammatic illustration of the apparatus associated witheach of the hydraulic cylinders shown in FIGURE 1 for transmittingcontrol signals (sheet 1).

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged partial side elevational view of the tampinghead, showing its arrangement with respect to the tamper, frame, tie andrail.

FIGURE 6 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged sectional view of the hydraulic valvingarrangement shown in FIGURES and 6 to provide vibratory cyclic actionfor the tamping tools.

FIGURE 8 is a detailed longitudinal section of the j acking arrangementfor the tamper unit (sheet 1).

FIGURE 9 is a transverse section of the rail clamping arrangementbetween tamper frame and rail.

FIGURE 10 is a side elevation, partly in section of the device shown inFIGURE 9.

FIGURE 11is a side elevation of the automatic jacking levelling andlining tamper unit operating from a tape, mark sensing device orreceiving device, etc. operating through signals received from apparatussuchas is illustrated in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 12 is a transverse view, partly in section taken on line 1212 ofFIGURE 11.

FIGURE 13 is an enlarged sectional detail of the sensing devices shownin FIGURES 11 and 12.

FIGURE 14 is a schematic vertical transverse elevation partly in sectionof a modified form of tamping tool arrangement for tamping from the endsof the tie and the tamping head is similar to the tamping headillustrated in FIGURES 5 and 6-.

FIGURE 15 is a vertical section of the arrangement shown in FIGURE 14,taken on the line 1515 of FIG- URE 14.

Referring to the drawings, the various devices are shown more or lessschematically. It will be realized that these various devices can takevarious forms and, in many instances they can be units which areavailable and readily incorporated into the complete automatic jacking,levelling and lining railroad track tamper hereinafter described.

The railroad tamper A illustrated in FIGURES 1-11 inclusive comprises apneumatic tired tractor 5 which is the power source to providelocomotion for the tamper unit 6, and hydraulic power for the varioustamper unit functions.

The tractor 5 is preferably equipped with self-aligning retractableflanged wheel assemblies 7 of the type disclosed in my co-pending US.patent application Ser. No. 421,326 whereby the tractor 5, as a unit,can be run on a roadway by means of the pneumatic tired wheels 8 orbeside the railroad tracks 9 when the flanged wheels 10 are elevated bythe hydraulic cylinder devices 11, or the flanged wheel assemblies canbe elevated and moved transversely to engage with the tracks and thetractor 5 with its pneumatic tired wheels 8 is then elevated and movedtransversely to bring the wheels 8 into alignment and contact with thetracks 9. Nevertheless, it can readily be seen that the tractor 5 can beoperated olf the tracks and hydraulic power supplied to the tamper unit6, by hydraulic lines or that power can he supplied from the tractor byelectrical cables to an electric motor-hydraulic pump arrangement, whichwill supply hydraulic power to the various operating elements of thetamper unit.

The tamper unit 6 has a frame 12 with a deck plate 13 attached thereto.The frame 12 consists of two pairs of channels 14 supported by runningand set-off Wheels 15. The wheels 15 are mounted on the lower ends ofthe shafts 16 which are vertically aligned in the sleeves 17 secured onthe deck 13. The shafts 16 and consequently the wheels 15 can be rotatedthrough 90 within the sleeves 17 to align the wheels 15 for running onthe tracks 9 or positioned at right angles for engagement with set-oi'I"rails for a set-ofi' operation. The shafts 16 are held in their adjustedposition 'by the pins 18.

Pressure spring 19 about the shafts 16 between the frame 12 and therunning and set-off wheels 15 provide a springing action and ensure thatthe wheels will remain in contact with the tracks 9.

It can also be seen that the tamper 6 could be equipped with aself-aligning retractable flanged wheel arrange- 4 ment as with thetractor 5 and jack itself on and off the track in a similar manner aswith tractor 5.

A pair of longitudinal level beams 23, one for each rail of the tracks9, are adjustably mounted on the vertical support members 21 by means ofthe pins 22 passing through selected apertures 23. A pair of verticalguide members 24 provide a maximum lateral movement for the beams 20with respect to the frame 12. The outer ends 25 of the beams 20 are eachadjustably attached to one of the pair of vertical members 26 locatedout ahead of the tamper unit 6, and the sensing wheels 27 mounted on thelower ends of the members 26 engage with and sense the contour of thetracks 9.

A pair of sensing wheels 28, one for each rail of the tracks 9, arelocated between the running and set-off wheels 15. The wheels 28 aremounted on the lower end of the piston rods or shafts 29.

Hydraulic cylinders 30, 31 and 32 are associated with each of the shafts29. The cylinders 30 are cut-ofl? cylinders; cylinders 31 are forlongitudinal levelling, and cylinders 32 are for cross levelling. Thearrangements of the cylinders 30, 31 and 32 are the same as described inmy co-pending US. application Ser. No. 445,123.

Pistons 30a, 31a and 32a are secured on the shafts 29, pistons 30a beingwithin the cylinders 30, pistons 31a being within the cylinders 31 andthe pistons 32a being within the cylinders 32.

The cylinders 30 are secured under the deck 13 between pairs of framechannels 14 (see FIG. 2); cylinders 31 are located under the beams 20,while the cylinders 32 are of the floating type and are attached to thecrossbar 33 by the links 34.

Piston 30a is return biased by the spring 3%; piston 31a is returnbiased *by the spring 31b, and piston 32a is return biased by the spring32b.

The shafts 29 pass upwards through the enlarged clearance opening 20a inthe beams 26 and a boss 20b on the under side of the beams 20surrounding the clearance opening 20a have their surface rounded to makerolling contact with the top surface of the cylinders 31. The cylinders31 are held in contact with the bosses 20b by the springs 31b as thebeams are moved relative to the frame 14 by the vertical displacement ofthe sensing wheels 27.

Associated with each of the cylinders 30, 31 and 32 are recordingapparatus B of the type shown schematically in FIG. 4. This recordingapparatus B will be described in association with cylinders 30 and willbe similar for each of the cylinders 31 and 32. The recording apparatusB includes a hydraulic cylinder 35 connected with the cylinder 30through the conduit 36. A piston 37 and piston rod 38 are associatedwith the cylinder 35 and the piston 37 is return biased by the spring39. The spring 39 is normally stronger than the spring 30b.

A stylus arm 40 is fixed to the piston rod 38 and is associated with amovable graph roll 41.

Integral with the cylinder 35- is an arm 42 carrying a fixed uprightpost 43. A sleeve 44 is slidable on the post 43. The upper end of thesleeve 44 terminates in an electromagnet 45 fed by leads 46. An arm 47is adjustable on the piston rod 38. The sleeve 44 passes through thisarm 47 and is adjustably held on the sleeve 44 by the ring 48. A pair ofelectrical contacts 49 are mounted between the arm 47 and an arm 50projecting from the lower end of the sleeve 44. Two or more pairs ofelectrical contacts 51 are mounted between the arm 47 and an arm 53extending from the upper end of the sleeve 44. A spring 54 about thesleeve 44 bears at one end against the arm 47 and at the other end underthe arm 53-.

The electrical switch contacts 51 are each set with a predetermined gapcorresponding with a predetermined permissible elevation rise of thetrack rails 9 with which the wheel 28 is in contact with. While two setsof contacts 51 are shown, it is understood that more than two can beemployed each set for a different elevational rise of the track rails 9.Any one-set of contacts 51 will cutout the operation of the tampingtools 68 when the permissible rise of the track rail is achieved.Similarly, the contacts 51 in the recording apparatus B associated withthe cylinders 31 and 32 will act to cut-out the Operation oflongitudinal levelling and cross levelling when the desired degree ofadjustment has been achieved.

The switch contacts 49 are used to provide a warning signal should therail be too high or too low beyond the predetermined setting of any ofthe contacts 51. For instance, should the rail be too high the piston ain the cylinder 30 would be displaced upwards, displacing upwards, inturn, the piston 37 in the cylinder which would, in turn eflect openingof the contacts 49.

The crossbar 33 is centrally secured to the stub shaft which, in turn,is journalled in the upper end of he vertical member 56 mounted at itslower end on the deck 13. A heavy pendulum 57 secured to the stub shaft55 keeps the crossbar 33 always in a horizontal position. The pendulummay be damped by conventional magnetic or hydraulic damping means aswell as other such means H all of well known design.

Two pairs of rail clamping devices 58 are mounted under the four cornersof the frame 12 or at any other suitable location on the frame. Atypical form of rail clamping device 58 is illustrated in FIGURES 9 and10.

The pressure springs 19 associated with the running and set-off wheels15 are compressed when the shoe members 59 of the clamping devices 58are pulled down into contact with the track rails 9.

The tamping head or heads 60 are shown particularly in FIGS. 5 and 6.The transversely disposed frames 61 of the tamping heads 60 are ofinverted U shape, one straddling each of the longitudinal pairs of framechannels 14. A pair of vertically disposed double acting hydrauliccylinders 62 are mounted with the U-shaped frames 61, each cylinderbeing positioned above one of the track rails 9 thereby permitting theframe 12 to take the load and shock rather than the wheel and axleassemblies 15.

A pair of longitudinally disposed members 63- are secured at a spaceddistance below the frame 12 by means of the spacers 64. The piston rods65 of the double acting cylinders 62 are secured at their lower ends tothe members 63 and, at their upper ends, are secured to the members 66which are spaced above the frame 12 by the brackets 67.

Pairs of tamping tools 68 are pivotally mounted on the blocks 69 whichare constrained to move in a horizontal direction inwardly and outwardlyin the slots 5%) Within the vertical walls 71 of the U frame 61.

A hydraulic intake and exhaust valving assembly 72 (FIG. 7) of the typedescribed in my co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 423,073, connectsthe upper ends of pairs of tamping tools 68 (see FIGS. 5 and 6). Thedouble acting cylinder 73 of the assembly 72 is mounted on the upperportions of the U-shaped frame 60, one assembly on either side as shownin FIG. 6. The piston rods 74 are connected to the piston 75A of thecylinders 73 and to the pistons 76 of the cylinders 77, and thesecylinders 77 are, in turn, connected to the upper ends of the tampingtools 68 by the links 78.

The valving assemblies 72 include synchronously driven sleeves 79synchronized to rotate 180 out of phase to open and close intake andexhaust ports, a pair are situated on both sides of piston 75A anddesignated as 75 in FIGURE 7. When the intake port is open this largeintake port compared to the intake line with the nitrogen accumulator 80attached to it provides an instantaneous movement of fluid at asustained pressure immediately when the intake port is opened. At thesame time when the intake port suddenly closes the accumulator 80 willact at a cushion for the sudden stoppage of flow of fluid.

If for any reason the instantaneous movement of fluid at a sustainedpressure is not required, the nitrogen accumulator could be removed andthe intake pressure lines attached directly to the intake portarrangements or the nitrogen accumulator removed and some kind ofcushioning device used in its place.

The exhaust port and return lines are also large to provide a minimum ofback pressure when the fluid is exhausting from the valving arrangement.

When sleeves 79 are rotated the alternating of the opening and closingof the intake and exhaust ports located on either side of piston 75A andbeing 180 out of phase with respect to each other will cause piston 75Ato reciprocate back and forth in the cylinder 73. At the same timepiston rod 74 will also reciprocate back and forth. Pistons 76 areattached to the ends of piston rod 74 and form a part of double actinghydraulic cylinders 77. It will be seen that the reciprocating movementof piston 75A will be restrained depending upon the manner in which theintake and exhaust lines 81 and 82 for cylinders 77 are manipulated asWell as the restraining influence that the member provides that thedouble acting hydraulic cylinders 77 are attached to, in this case,tamping tools 68.

A pair of double acting cylinders 83 have their piston rods 84 connectedto the tamping head 60 by means of the pin 85, while the cylinders 83themselves are connected to the tamping tools 68 by the links 86 at aposition below the pivot blocks 69.

When the tamper uni. 6 is located in place on the tracks 9 for a tampingoperation, the jacking pads 59 of the rail clamping devices 58 arelowered into contact with the tracks to provide solid anchorage for theunit. The jacking pads 59 are pivotally connected to the lower ends ofthe piston rods 87 which, in turn, are connected to the pistons 88within the cylinders 89. The cylinders 89 are of the floating type andthe whole assembly is supported under the frame 12 by the upwardlyextending shafts 90 anchored to the frame by the fastening nut 91.

All of the cylinders described above are serviced by hydraulic fluid fedthrough the conduits hown, and controlled by suitable valves in wellknown manner except Where otherwise described.

In FIGURE 3 there is illustrated an alternative means to the hydraulicsystem shown in FIGURE 2. In this arrangement the piston 92 of thecylinder 93 is biased with the spring 94 above the piston instead ofbelow the piston as in cylinder 30 in FIGURE 2. The piston rod 29aextends above the deck 13. A cut-off resistor 95 is mounted on a bracket96 on the deck 13 and the contact arm 97 adjusta'bly mounted on thepiston rod 29a slides along the resistor 95 on vertical displacement ofthe piston rod 290. A longitudinal levelling resistor 98 is mounted on abracket 99 also mounted on the deck 13. A COntact arm 100 is mounted onthe beam 20 and makes sliding contact with the resistor 98 in responseto upward or downward movement of the sensing wheel 27 located ahead ofthe tamper unit. A cross levelling resistor 101 is mounted on a bracket102 extending downwards from the outer end of the crossbar 33. A contactarm 103 is adjustably mounted on the upper end of the piston rod 29a forsliding contact on the resistor 101 on vertical displacement of thepiston rod relative to the steady-levelheld crossarm 33.

All resistors and contact arms are provided with suitable leads leadingto suitable devices to indicate or cut out the particular operation whenthe correct amount of move ment has been made when the unit is beingused as a correction device. The information can also be fed to acomputer tape or card, etc. if the unit is being used to sense a contourof a surface or surfaces. It will be seen that the same conditions willapply for the hydraulic cylinder arrangements explained for FIGURE 2. Inaddition it will also be seen the recording devices explained for FIG-URES 2 and 3 could be used for recording the contour of a surface aswell as the correction of it.

It will be readily seen that the simple type of sliding resistor showncould be replaced by a type of linear potentiometer of a well knownmanufacture.

Also it can be seen that although the unit is shown as raising andlevelling a railroad track that the unit could be mounted with otherwheels and steering devices, etc. and used for the longitudinal andcross levelling of, for example, the forms used for concrete work, orfor the correction of cross and longitudinal level of a highway or itcould be used to sense a contour of such a surface and record the dataon computer tape etc.

Referring now to FIGS. 11, 12 and 13, the apparatus shown is anautomatic jacking, levelling and lining tamper machine 104 operatingfrom a computer tape, sensing or receiving devices, etc.

The frame 105 is supported on the wheels 106 and axles 107 and carries apower unit 108 such as an internal combustion engine, a transmission109, a hydraulic pump 110 driven from the transmission 109, and ahydraulic fluid tank 111 supplying fluid to the pump 110 through theline 112. Fluid is discharged under pressure from the pump 110 throughline 113, to the various hydraulic mechanisms on the tamper machine 104.

The machine 104 is driven along the tracks 9 by the hydraulic motor 114attached to one of the axles 107 and operated from the pump 110 throughsuitable controls which will start and stop and locate the tamper 104 inrelation to the ties under the rail tracks or predetermined markings onthe rails as will be explained later. Although one hydraulic drive motor114 is shown, it can be readily seen that more than one could beprovided and,

furthermore, the machine could be propelled by various other drivesincluding those of the hydraulic mechanical type.

The automatic jacking, levelling and lining apparatus consists of asubframework arrangement 115 which extends over the top of and downparts of the sides of the tamper frame 105 but does not touch it. Thisframework arrangement 115 consists of vertical members 116 and 117located above each of the rails of the track rails 9. A sensing wheel118 is mounted on the lower end of the members 116 and 117 and isaligned to run on the track rails 9. The axle 119 of the rear wheels 118is attached to the axle 107 by the tow bar 120, thereby keeping theforward movement of the frame 115 in phase with the tamper frame 105.

The upper ends of the members 116 and 117 are adjustably secured in thepair of longitudinal members 121, by pins 122. The forward ends 123 ofthe members 121 together with the members 117 and sensing wheels 118aextend considerably in front of the forward end of the tamper frame 105so that the portion of the track rails 9 contacted by the wheels 118awill not be disturbed when levelling and/ or lining jacking takes place.

A U-shaped frame member 124, one for each side of the tamper unit, hasits pair of free ends 125 adjustably mounted in the longitudinal members121 by means of the pins 126. The closed lower end of the U-shapedmembers 124 consisting of the horizontal members 127 are located at alevel immediately above the track rails 9 and spaced outwardly therefrom(see FIG. 12).

A feel plate 128 extends between and outwardly beyond the longitudinalmembers 121 and is braced at its outer ends by the brace members 129.

For reasons of clarity the tamping heads 60 and the rail clampingdevices 58 are not shown in FIGURES 11 and 12. However, they would beassembled in the machine 104 in the same manner as is illustrated inFIG- URES 5, 6, 9 and 10, and perform in the manner above described.

A pair of vertical sensing devices 130 are located one above each of therails of the track rails 9, and are shown in detail in FIGURE 13. Eachof these devices 130 are operated in conjunction with a hydrauliccylinder 131 mounted on the frame 105. The piston 132 within thecylinder131 is return biased by the spring 133. Sensing wheels 134 running onthe track rails 9 are journalled in the forked lower ends of the pistonrods 135.

Each piston rod 135 extends upwards from the piston 132 and is connectedto a cylinder 130 whose top end is sealed off by the plate 137. An upperplate 138 has a depending axial sleeve 139 passing down through theplate 137. A collar 140 adjustable on the sleeve 139, together with thespring 141 hold the plates 137 and 138 in spaced relation to each other.

A shaft 142. axially movable in the sleeve 139 has its upper end forkedat 143. A feeler wheel 144 is journalled in the forked end 143. Asquared stub shaft 145 has its upper end axially slidably within thesquare bore 146 in the shaft 142 and its lower end aixally slidable inthe square bore 146a in the boss 147 in the lower wall 148 of thecylinder 136. This stub shaft 145 maintains the shaft 142 and wheel 144in axial alignment with the piston rod 135 and the spring 149surrounding the stub shaft 145 maintains the feeling wheel 144 incontact with the under surface of the feeling plate 128.

An electromagnet 150 in the upper portion of the sleeve 139 is energizedto freeze the sleeve with the shaft 142.

A series of pairs of switch contacts 151 located on the opposing facesof the upper plate 138 and the lower plate 137 are set at variouspredetermined gaps. These switch contacts 151 are operated by well knownelectrical or hydraulic means which are controlled by a computer tape orcard. The switch having the desired predetermined gap is selected by thecomputer and will cut out the operation of the tamper tools 63 when theselected switch is closed.

Also the switch contact points 151 can be of the movable type that willopen or close on command from the computer tape, card or magnetic disc,etc. This type of control is of well known manufacture and used in theautomatic tool industry for the control of machining and other functionsetc.

One of the switches 151 will act to provide a warning signal, in thesame manner as the switch contacts 49 previously described, to indicatewhether the track rail is too high or too low, than the raise dictatedby the computer tape.

The spring 149 provides an upward force on shaft 142 and a downwardforce on the boss 147 which is a part of piston rod 135. It follows thatas the wheel 134 which is mounted on piston rod 135 is restrained frommovement up or down by rails 9, it also follows that sensing feelerwheels 144 will always be in contact with feeling plate 128. With sleeve139 frozen to shaft 142 by electromagnet 150, therefore, as rails 9 areraised up, piston rod 135 will likewise move upward as will plate 137.Plate 138 is frozen from vertical travel by electromagnet 150.Therefore, spring 141 will be compressed and the gap between points 151will close and when they meet a signal will be made that willautomatically cut off or warn that the movement of the rails 9 upwardshould be stopped.

The switches 151 may be replaced by linear resistances 152, which aremounted on the upper plate 138, While a contact arm 153 mounted on thelower plate 137 makes sliding contact with the resistor on verticaldisplacement of the wheels 134.

Although a simple type of resistor is shown itcan be readily seen that acommercial type of linear potentiometer of well known manufacture couldbe used in its place.

A pair of horizontal sensing devices 155, similar to the verticallydisposed sensing devices 130, shown in detail in FIG. 13, are mounted onthe inward facing surface of horizontal members 127 of the U-shapedframe members 124. The cylinders 136 of these devices 155 are fixedlysecured to the members 127 by the shafts or brackets 156. The shaft 142is provided with an end feeler plate 157 which makes contact with thetop head of the adjacent track rail 9. The feeler plates 157 aremaintained in contact with the top bead of the rail by the spring 149about the square shaft 145. The sensing devices 155 are provided withthe required electrical contacts 151 or other similar devices as abovedescribed and illustrated in FIGURE 13.

The horizontal sensing device 155 is similar to that of 130 and itsoperation is the same.

A mark sensing device 158 is actuated when the sensing member 159 istriggered by material such as radioactive paint or magnetic action thathas previously been applied to the track rails 9 in such a way as toportray the amount of rise or line required at that particular locationon the track. The signal output from the sensing device 158 connectswith automatic control apparatus 159 which provides the input andcut-off control for the hydraulic fluid that actuates the double actingline jacking cylinders 160 attached to the underside of the frame 105and the double acting cylinders 161 of the tamper jacking-up devices162. The double acting line jacking cylinders 160 have piston rods 163which contact and adjust the alignment of the track rails 9.

A distance actuated interrupter device 164 driven by the chain drive 165from the wheels 106 interrupts and actuates the circuits to theautomatic control apparatus 159 so that the jacking and lining functioncan be carried out at prescribed intervals as and if required.

The automatic control apparatus 159 is a tape slave machine whichreceives signals from the various control devices such as the devices B(FIG. 4) or from a computer by means of pre-recorded tape, and directsthe amount of jacking of the tamper by the jacking-up devices 16-2 orthe track lining by the cylinder device 160, required at a specificlocation. The tape receiving Wheel 166 is driven from the track wheel106 by the chain drive 167, whereby the tape directs the jacking andlevelling movement in a predetermined manner according to the distancetravelled by the tamper.

The tape can be one made direct from a track recording machine which canbe used raw or after being computerized to provide the optimum line andlevel, taking all the variables into consideration. Although a tape hasbeen shown, it can readily be seen that a Wire or disc recording device,etc., could be used. Furthermore, it can be seen that the actuatingdevices on the tamper could be directly connected to the track analyzingdevice by a cable if such is desired.

A signal receiving unit 168 mounted on the frame 105 is provided with areceiving antenna 169, which receives information produced by a trackrecording analyzing device or from information that has been suitablyanalyzed and adjusted by a computer to give the desired direction to thetamper. Wire leads 170 carry the signals for jacking devices 162, liningdevice 160 and mark sensing device 158 and any other units on the tamperwhich are capable of being operated on a signal.

In the operation of this apparatus, the tamper is automatically spottedover one of the ties 171 by means of one or other of the sensingdevices, B of FIG. 4, the metallic sensing device 158 of FIG. 11 orother similar device. For the purpose of explanation the metallicsensing device 158 is used.

The tape control device 159 is shown as being synchronously driven fromthe tamper track wheel 106, therefore, as the tamper moves forward thetape is automatically positioned with respect to the tie 171 so that theexact rise or line for the tie in question is directed by the tape. Therail clamping devices 58, one on each corner of the tamper frame 105,clamp the track rails 9 automatically at the correct location for thetamping operation. The rail clamping device 58 is supplied withhydraulic fluid through the lines 172 from the hydraulic pump line 113.

The raising of the tamper by the jacking devices 162 and the rail liningmovement by the cylinder 160 can be performed simultaneously or inpartial sequence with each other as required, for example, the jackingfor cross and longitudinal level can be performed first and then thelining movement or the jacking during or before the tamping cyclefinishes. For the example hereinafter described the jacking forlongitudinal and cross level will be performed first followed by thejacking for lining in conjunction with the tamping cycle.

The magnetic sleeve 44 of the sensing device B used in conjunction withthe hydraulic cylinder 131 is first locked on the shaft 43. The openingof the contact points 51 are set for a desired amount of movement ofwheels 28 and piston rod 29 with respect to the frame 12 of the tamper.As previously stated, a series of contacts 51 can be used, each set witha predetermined gap for permitted movement of the track rail. Thisarrangement is a cut-off means for stopping the tamping operation afterthe rails 9 have been raised a predetermined amount against arestraining pressure. It operates the same as explained for the cut outdevice for FIGURE 4. The wire leads 173 from the automatic tape slavecontrol apparatus 159 FIG. 11 transmit a signal for the desired amountof raise for the location of the rail in question, right hand or lefthand of the pair of track rails 9, to the longitudinal and cross-levelsensing cut-out devices 130, where contact points 151 have beenpredeterminedly spaced or where they have been opened or closed asdictated by the slave device 159. The linear resistance device 152 canbe used to control the amount of raise by a signal for the correctresistance distance from the slave device 159 that contact points 153has to move with respect to resistance 152.

The exact amount of jacking of the frame 12 or for cross andlongitudinal level is now performed by the double-acting hydraulicjacking-up devices 162. At the same time the frame 12 or 105 is clampedand held rigid with respect to the track rails 9 by means of the railclamping devices 58. It, therefore, follows that when the jackingdevices 162 raise the frame of the tamper, the track rails 9 will alsobe raised a like amount.

The lower portions of the sensing devices of which the sensing wheels134 are a part, are in contact with the track rails. These sensingdevices 130, including the plate 137 and the contacts attached to it,will move upwards with upward movement of the track rails. The upperportion of the sensing devices including the plate 138 and the contactsattached to it are kept in spaced apart relationship to the plate 137 bythe compression spring 141. The springs 149 always keep the sensingwheels 144 in contact with the plate 128 which is an integral part ofthe outer frame assembly 115 and separate from the tamper and, thereforedo not move during the jacking-up operation for longitudinal orcross-level.

With the sleeve 139 frozen on shaft 142 by electromagnet 150 thecompression springs 149 will be compressed when shafts and attachedparts move upwards because wheels 144 are restrained from upwardmovement by plate 138. Compression springs 141 are compressed and plates137 and 138 will close relative to each other until the contacts 151close, or the linear resistance 152 has moved the correct amount so thatthe packing movement provides automatically the correct amount oflongitudinal and cross-level.

The tamping operation is now automatically started when the switchcontacts 151 close and the jacking operation is cut-out.

The tamping heads 60, one for each rail include four tamping tools 68have each been located in pairs one on each side of and above a tie 171.Although each tamping head 60 is shown with four tools, it is understoodthat they may be equipped with eight or more tools if required. It canbe seen and more than one tie can be tamped at one time if desired byadding additional tamping heads 60.

The tamping heads 60 move up and down with relation to the pistons 65aand piston rods 65 when hydraulic pressure is applied on either side ofthe pistons in the double-acting hydraulic cylinders 62. Up and downmovement of the tamping heads 60 force the tamping tools 68 down intothe ballast. Simultaneously, the vibratory tamping action is started.

The hydraulic intake and exhaust valving system 72 is fully described inmy co-pending US. patent application Ser. No. 423,073 and consists of adouble-acting hydraulic cylinder 73 and a piston 75a reciprocatingtherein, the piston dividing the cylinder into two separate chambers,separate intake and outlet parts 75 are associated with each chamber,the synchronized rotary sleeves 79 are rotated 180 out of phase to openand close the four ports 75. The accumulators 80 communicate with eachof the inlet and exhaust ports 75. On opening of each intake port itsassociated exhaust port is closed with the result that the two chamberson either side of the piston 75a are alternately filled with pressurefluid and the piston is reciprocated to develop a rapid vibrating,action.

The double acting cylinders 73 and 77 provide a wide range of frequency,amplitude and impact for the piston rod 74 of the hydraulic cylinder 73;while the double acting hydraulic cylinders 77, attached to the top endsof t the tamping tools 68 by the links 78 provide an inward or outwardmovement to the tamping tools. The travel of the double acting piston75a is controlled by the pair of double acting cylinders 77 depending onhow the pressure and exhaust is manipulated to the intake lines 81 andexhaust lines 82 respectively to the cylinders 77, to the extent thatthese cylinders are restrained from movement because of theirconnection, through the links 78, with the tamping tools 68.

Simultaneously with the rapid vibrating action initiated by thehydraulic intake and exhaust valving system 72, the two double-actinghydraulic cylinders 83 are activated to provide an inward and outwardmovement to the lower ends of the tamping tools 68.

The tamping tools 68 are pivoted in the tamping heads 60 intermediatetheir connection with the assemblies 72 and the cylinders 83. As thepivot blocks 69 are movable in the slots 70, the tamping tools are keptin alignment with a wide range of tamping tool angles with respect tothe vertical can be obtained. The resulting varied frequency, amplitudeand impact as well as the variable action of the tamping tools withrespect to the vertical, is capable of compacting ballast under the ties171 in a varied section such as (a) an inverted type of wedge or pyramidof the compaction is made with the tamping tools sloping inwards; (b) arectangular type of section of the ballast is compacted with the toolsvertical, and (c) a regular wedge or pyramid type of section of ballastwith the top cut off, is compacted under ties 179 with the tamping toolssloping outwards.

The valving assembly 72 can be interchanged with th cylinders 83 or avalving .assembly 72 can replace the cylinders 83. Similarly the valvingassembly 72 can be attached to and become a part of the tamping blade 68to provide a vertical reciprocating action to it.

In FIGS. 14 and there is shown a modified form of tamping tool assemblyin which combination of valving assemblies similar to that illustratedin FIG. 7 are used to supply power to the tamping tools.

In this modified arrangement the tamping tools 180 are an extension ofthe piston rods 74 (FIG. 7) projecting from the lower end of thevertically aligned valving assemblies 181, which are mounted in thetamping head 186. The piston rod which would normally project from theupper end of the valving assemblies 181 are replaced by the fixedmembers 182.

The valving assemblies 181 are pivotally mounted at 183 in the blocks184 which are slidable horizontally in the slots 185 in the tamping headframe 186.

A pair of horizontally disposed valving assemblies 187 and 188,including cylinders 77 (FIG. 7), are mounted on the upright members 189of the tamping head frame 186. The lower valving assembly 187 is axiallyaligned in the horizontal plane of the pivot mounting 183 of the valvingassemblies 181 and are connected to the sliding 12 blocks 184 by thelinks 190. The upper valving assembly 188 including cylinders 77 (FIG.7) are connected to the upper ends of the members 182 of the valvingassemblies 181 by the links 191.

In the arrangement illustrated in FIGS. 14 and 15 all of the valvingassemblies provide a rapid vibrating oscillatory force to the tampingtools and, in addition, the valving assemblies 187 and 188 will acteither to vibrate and oscillate the tamping tools horizontally in thetamping head frame 186 or cause the tamping tools to have a vibratorymovement about their pivot mounting 183.

It can be seen that the tamping tool 180 could have a flat platehingeably attached to its lower end and extending backward along theties see FIGURE 14, the other end of the plate could be hingeably,attached to an extension of frame 14. When the plate is adjusted on thebackward hinge which is attached to the frame so that the bottom of theplate is even with the bottom of tool 180 and in a plane parallel to thebottom of the ties only closer to the tie at the backward end than tool180. With this arrangement the end of the plate attached to 180 willreciprocate with 180 and with the other end hinged a rapid wedgingaction will take place and that ballast will be forced under the ties.

It can be further seen that members 72 and 187 could be made of twodouble acting hydraulic cylinders 72 and 187, instead of one at eachlocation with a single piston rod from each leading in cylinder 77 asshown. The valving for double cylinders 72 and 187 would besynchronously driven so that the two pistons in 72 at the top and thetwo pistons for 187 at the bottom would move in and out together. Inthis way, the forces would be balanced and each force would be providedwith an equal and opposite reaction thereby providing an inherentbalance to the mechanism similar to that for an opposed piston englue.

The lining action is now started. The lining force is provided by thedouble-acting cylinder which is attached directly to the tamper frame 12or 105.

Simultaneously with the tamping action, the jacking action is started toraise the track to meet the required horizontal and longitudinal levelas dictated by the displacement from the zero position of hydraulicfluid on the longitudinal double-acting cylinders 31 and cross-leveldouble-acting hydraulic cylinders 32. It follows that the required liftof the track can be controlled by either the sensing control apparatus Bassociated with each of the cylinders 31 and 32 as shown in FIGURE 4, orby linear resistances 98 and 101 as shown in FIGURE 3. The track willcontinue to be raised until the desired cross level has been reachedeither for super-elevated curve or tangent track.

The tamping action continues until the upward force of the tampingpushes the tie, plate and rail upwards a predetermined amount asexplained for an arrangement as in FIG. 4. When an electrical contactetc. has been activated the tamping cycle is automatically stopped.

It can be readily seen that the sensing devices (FIGS. 3 or 4) can beused to automatically stop the jacking or turn on a warning light etc.,indicating that the operation should be stopped.

It can readily be seen that the tamping operation can be automaticallystopped and the tamper is automatically indexed, for example, say themetallic sensing device 159.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. An automatic tamper machine movable on railroad tracks for jacking,levelling and lining of the railroad tracks comprising a main wheelsupported frame running on railroad tracks, sensing devices forindividually sensing the longitudinal, cross level and lining of theseparate rails of the railroad track means to maintain a reference datumin the said sensing devices transversely of the said frame forindividually sensing the longitudinal and cross level and the lining ofthe separate rails of the railroad track, control mechanisms associatedwith each of the said sensing devices, the said control mechanism eachadapted to collect and transmit data indicative of the out of positioncondition of the separate rails of the railroad tracks, separate meansto adjust the railroad track to a corrected position of longitudinal andcross level and lining in agreement with the data transmitted by thesaid control mechanism, railroad bed tamping devices mounted on the saidframe, and means to operate the said tamping devices to tamp therailroad bed under the corrected position of the railroad tracks, thesaid latter means being started up and cut-out in response to datareceived from the said control mechanisms.

2. An automatic tamper machine as set forth in claim 1 in which the saidsensing devices include a pair of sensing wheels for each rail of therailroad track, a vertically disposed rod supported by each sensingwheel, and means to maintain the said wheels in contact with theirassociated rail, one rod associated with one sensing wheel of each pairbeing vertically displaced when the rails of the railroad track areadjusted towards a corrected position, the vertical displacement of saidrods effecting cutout of said sensing devices when the railroad track isadjusted to a corrected position predetermined by the said controlmechanisms.

3. An automatic tamper machine as set forth in claim 1 in which the saidsensing devices include a pair of sensing wheels for each rail of therailroad track, a vertically disposed rod supported by each sensingwheel, and means to maintain the said wheels in contact with theirassociated rail, one rod associated with one sensing wheel of each pairbeing vertically displaced when the rails of the railroad track areadjusted vertically a predetermined amount against a restrainingpressure, the vertical displacement of the said rods effecting cut-outof said sensing devices when the railroad track is adjusted to acorrected position predetermined by the said control mechamsms.

4. An automatic tamper machine as set forth in claim 1 in which the saidsensing devices associated with each rail of the railroad tracks includea longitudinal level sensing device, a cross level sensing device and alining sensing device, and a cut-out sensing device adapted to cut-outthe said longitudinal and cross level and lining sensing devices whenthe rails of the railroad track have been adjusted to their correctedposition.

5. An automatic tamper machine as set forth in claim 1 in which thesaidframe includes a series of hydraulic jacks adapted to hold the framein a fixed position above the railroad tracks while the railroad bedtamping operation is being carried out, the said jacks being energizedand de-energized responsive to a signal from the said controlmechanisms.

6. An automatic tamper machine as set forth in claim 1 in which themeans to adjust the lining of the railroad track include a hydraulicjack disposed horizontally under and transversely of the said frame, thesaid hydraulic jack adapted to move the railroad tracks transverselyrelative to the said frame in response to a signal from the liningsensing device.

7. An automatic tamper machine as set forth in claim 1 in which thecontrol mechanisms associated with each of the sensing devices include acut-out switch cutting out the operation of the means to adjust thelongitudinal and cross level and lining of the railroad tracks when thetracks have been adjusted in accordance with a signal received from thesaid sensing devices.

8. An automatic tamper machine as set forth in claim 1 in which thecondition of the railroad track sensed by first sensing devices isprerecorded on a recording device by the control mechanisms associatedwith said first sensing devices, and the means to adjust the railroadtrack and the means to operate the said tamping devices are set inoperation by second sensing devices operable on a signal from saidrecording devices.

9. An automatic tamper machine as set forth in claim 1 in which a subframe is supported on rail contacting wheels at the rear of andforwardly of the said main wheel supported frame, the said sub frameeffecting displacement of sensing devices to record through said controlmechanism, out of position of the individual rails of the railroad trackahead of the said main wheel supported frame.

10. An automatic tamper machine as set forth in claim 8 in which thesaid sub frame includes a pair of members extending downwards on eitherside of the said main frame and a rail lining sensing device is mountedon each of the said pair of members, the said lining sensing devicesprojecting inwardly of the said pair of members into spring contact withthe adjacent rails of said railroad track, and a hydraulic liningjacking cylinder on said main frame, the said jacking cylinder beingaligned in the vertical plane of the said lining sensing devices andoperative in response to a signal from said lining sensing devices tocorrect the alignment of the railroad track.

11. An automatic tamper machine as set forth in claim 1 in which thetamping devices include a tamping head, first hydraulic means foradjusting the vertical height of said tamping head with respect to saidwheel supported frame, pairs of tamping tools pivotally mounted in andhorizontally slidable in said tamping head, and means to operate thesaid tamping tools in the said tamping head include second pairs ofhydraulic devices associated with each of the pair of tamping tools, thesaid pair of hydraulic devices adapted to separately impartreciprocating movement to the pair of tamping tools in a horizontaldirection above and below the pivotal mounting of the tamping tools inthe said tamping head.

12. An automatic tamper machine as set forth in claim 11 in which thesaid second mentioned hydraulic devices include valving mechanismsynchronously driven to rotate out of phase to open and close intake andexhaust valves and effect rapid oscillatory vibrating movement to thesaid pairs of tamping tools.

13. An automatic tamper machine as set forth in claim 1 in which thesaid tampering devices include a tamping head, hydraulic means foradjusting the vertical height of said tamping head relative to saidwheel supported frame, a pair of tamping tools pivotally mounted in saidtamping head, first hydraulic means associated with each of the saidtamping tools, the said first hydraulic means adapted to impart rapidoscillatory vibrating movement in a vertical direction to said tampingtools, second hydraulic means pivotally connected to each of said firsthydraulic means, and a third hydraulic means connected to each of saidfirst hydraulic means at a point located above the pivotal mounting ofsaid first in said tamping head, said second and third hydraulic meansadapted to impart rapid oscillatory vibrating movement separately in ahorizontal direction to said tamping tools.

14. An automatic tamper machine as set forth in claim 11 in which thesaid second and third hydraulic means impart reciprocation to the saidtamping tools in phase with or out of phase with each other.

15. An automatic tamper machine as set forth in claim 11 in which thesaid hydraulic means each include a double ended cylinder and pistondevice and a pair of sleeve valves rotatable through 180 out of phasewith each other to open and close intake and exhaust ports associatedwith each end of the said double ended cylinder to effect rapidoscillatory vibrating movement to the said tamping tools.

16. An automatic tamper machine as set forth in claim 1 in which themeans to maintain a transverse reference datum includes a cross barpivotally supported intermediate its length above and transversely ofthe said wheel supported frame and a heavy pendulum adapted to hold saidcross bar in a horizontal position, and in which the said sensingdevices include a first pair of sensing wheels, one each in runningcontact with one rail of the railroad 15 track below the said wheelsupported frame, a vertical- 1y disposed rod supported by each of saidsensing wheels, three pistons disposed on each of said rods at spacedapart intervals, a hydraulic cylinder about each of said pistons, thelowermost of said cylinders on each rod being fixedly mounted on thesaid wheel supported frame, a second intermediate of said cylindersbeing of the floating type, and the third of the said cylinders beingattached by link means to the outermost ends of the said cross bar, areturn bias spring in each of said cylinders, a second pair 10 ofsensing wheels, one each in running contact with one rail of therailroad tracks, the said latter wheels being located at a considerabledistance ahead of the said wheel supported frame, a vertically disposedrod supported by each of said second pair of sensing wheels, a pair oflongitudinally disposed beams above said wheel supported frame, one endof each of said beams being pivotally supported on the frame at the rearthereof and the opposite end of the beams being pivotally supported onthe Said rods supported by said second pair of sensing wheels,'the saidpair of beams at an intermediate portion thereof contacting anddisplacing said second intermediate cylinders to effect displacement ofsaid latter cylinder on the said vertically disposed rods ondisplacement of the said second sensing wheels relative to said firstsensing wheels.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 15 ARTHUR L. LA POINT, PrimaryExaminer.

R. A. BERTSCH, Assistant Examiner.

1. AN AUTOMATIC TAMPER MACHINE MOVABLE ON RAILROAD TRACKS FOR JACKING,LEVELLING AND LINING OF THE RAILROAD TRACKS COMPRISING A MAIN WHEELSUPPORTED FRAME RUNNING ON RAILROAD TRACKS, SENSING DEVICES FORINDIVIDUALLY SENSING THE LONGITUDINAL, CROSS LEVEL AND LINING OF THESEPARATE RAILS OF THE RAILROAD TRACK MEANS TO MAINTAIN A REFERENCE DATUMIN THE SAID SENSING DEVICES TRANSVERSELY OF THE SAID FRAME FORINDIVIDUALLY SENSING THE LONGITUDINAL AND CROSS LEVEL AND THE LINING OFTHE SEPARATE RAILS OF THE RAILROAD TRACK, CONTROL MECHANISMS ASSOCIATEDWITH EACH OF THE SAID SENSING DEVICES, THE SAID CONTROL MECHANISM EACHADAPTED TO COLLECT AND TRANSMIT DATA INDICATIVE OF THE OUT OF POSITIONCONDITION OF THE SEPARATE RAILS OF THE RAILROAD TRACKS, SEPARATE MEANSTO ADJUST THE RAILROAD TRACK TO A CORRECTED POSITION OF LONGITUDINAL ANDCROSS LEVEL AND LINING IN AGREEMENT WITH THE DATA TRANSMITTED BY THESAID CONTROL MECHANISM, RAILROAD BED TAMPING DEVICES MOUNTED ON THE SAIDFRAME, AND MEANS TO OPERATE THE SAID TAMPING DEVICES TO TAMP THERAILROAD BED UNDER THE CORRECTED POSITION OF THE RAILROAD TRACKS, THESAID LATTER MEANS BEING STARTED UP AND CUT-OUT IN RESPONSE TO DATARECEIVED FROM THE SAID CONTROL MECHANISMS.